Question

In one or two sentences, explain how the chemical equation for photosynthesis shows that plant cycle matter. include the number of molecules and atoms

Answer 1

The chemical equation for photosynthesis, \(6 \text{CO}_2 + 6 \text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6 + 6 \text{O}_2\), illustrates that plants cycle matter by converting 6 molecules of carbon dioxide and 6 molecules of water into 1 molecule of glucose (which contains 6 carbon, 12 hydrogen, and 6 oxygen atoms) and 6 molecules of oxygen, thus rearranging the same atoms while transforming them into different compounds. This demonstrates that the same 24 atoms (6C, 12H, and 6O) are conserved and reconfigured throughout the process.